AFRICAN GAMES 2023: WHAT NEXT

Ghana won the rights to host the 13th edition of the African Games in 2017 (the first time the Games was being held in Ghana since its inception in 1965). Fast forward, Ghana met the requirements to host the tournament after satisfying the requirements of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC), developing and constructing internationally standard facilities to host the event.

The Borteyman Sports Complex was constructed, the University of Ghana Sports Stadium construction was completed, several renovations went on at the Bukum Boxing Arena, the Theodosia Okoh Hockey pitch, the University of Ghana Basketball Complex, the Achimota Cricket Oval, the Accra Sports Stadium, the Cape Coast Stadium among others. Nine venues hosted the rest of Africa to participate at the African Games 2023.

The Borteyman Sports Complex which is the hub of several sporting disciplines including swimming, indoor volleyball, tennis, handball among others are the talk of town among the foreign nationals that patronized these games. The University of Ghana Sports Stadium which dealt with Athletics and Rugby also became a toast of many fans that were in attendance.

What does this tell us? Ghana must maintain these facilities on prompt basis to meet international standards at all times. Maintenance has been one major problem in Ghana but we can do things right.

Ghana through engaging in annual or binary tournaments with sister countries can also help maintain the facilities and also ensure that we unearth talents who can compete and win laurels at the highest level.

Who knows the next World Record holder may be coming from Ghana. I entreat the Ministry of Youth of Sports, Ghana to put this to thought.